Murray State University Athletics
Racers Start Four-Match Home Stand In Racer Arena
10/14/2009 6:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of Racer Arena this weekend to start a four-match home stand. The Racers (3-15, 3-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will host Austin Peay, Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and then face Tennessee State, Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.
Scouting Austin Peay
The Lady Govs are having a strong season, compiling a 13-5 overall and 7-1 OVC records. APSU's lone loss in the conference came against undefeated OVC-leader, Jacksonville State (2-3).
The Lady Govs have one player that gets the majority of the sets, but they also have four other hitters that they spread the offense out. Stephanie Champine gets about 15 more sets per game, while Ilyanna Hernandez, Kristin Distler, Taylor Skinner and Jessia Mollman split the rest pretty evenly each match. Champine leads the team with a .261 (274k-76e-758ta) attack percentage. Skinner is second with a .259 mark, Distler adds a .233 clip and Mollman hits at a .224 mark. Skinner and Distler are also threats at the service line, with 25 and 22 aces respectively.
The Lady Govs are a strong team overall, with a team hitting percentage of .220 (858k-305e-2517ta) and a digs average of 18.3 per set. APSU's digging has helped them hold opponents to a .150 (740k-373e-2448ta) hitting percentage.
Scouting Tennessee State
The Tigers head into this weekend's matches with a 2-17 overall record and a 1-6 mark against OVC opponents. TSU has not picked up a win since Sep. 25 at Eastern Illinois and is on a seven-match skid.
The Tigers have five players that spread the offense around the court, with all five attempting between 320 and 485 attacks. Vicmari Prospero has the best hitting percentage out of the group, with a .198 (142k-66e-383ta) mark, while Terakka Walker is the team's leading killer with 148. Prospero is also the team's leader at the service line and at the net, with 27 aces and 39 (1-38) blocks.
Calasia Willimas leads the defense for TSU, with 215 digs.
Swinging To Eliminate Cancer
For the second straight season the Racers will be hosting Swinging To Eliminate Cancer, a fundraiser to help those effected by cancer. But this season the team will be raising money to help closer to home, as all the funds raised will go to Ashley's Angels, a donation account set up to help the Gesler Family of Murray, Ky.
Ashley Gesler, the wife of David Gesler an Associate Professor in the Department of Organizational Communication at Murray State, was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2009. The couple has four children.
This year's Swinging To Eliminate Cancer event will take place, Oct. 23-24. Donations will be accepted through the weekend and can be given to any member of the team or volleyball staff. Those wishing to make donations can make a flat donation or can choose to make a donation per attack attempt recorded by both teams in both matches over the weekend.
This year the Racers will also be returning to The Big Apple Café for a rebate night, Monday, Oct. 19. Patrons of The Big Apple Café can choose to donate a portion of their check to the cause. The volleyball team will also be on hand from 4-8 p.m. to help staff refill drinks and communicate the importance of the event to customers.
Block Party
Junior Sara Hayden has been making moves on the MSU career blocking charts this season. The Louisville, Ky., native has 181 total blocks, including 139 block assists and 42 block solos.
Her 181 total blocks moved her up to the No. 9 spot on the Racer Total Blocks list. She needs eight more to move into eighth, currently held by Holly Jansen (188). Hayden is also on the career Block Assists List in the No. 7 position. She needs 14 to move up to sixth (153 - Katie Kemezys). Hayden is also four block solos away from making the top ten for block solos (46).
Ashley Nenninger is also inching closer to a spot on the block assist and total blocks charts after recording 111 (18-93) total blocks.
Becca Lamb also has a chance to make the total blocks and block assists charts. She currently has 121 (23-98) total blocks.
Up Next
After this weekend's matches MSU will remain at home for two more matches, Oct. 23-24. The Racers host Tennessee Tech, Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and Jacksonville State, Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
Scouting Austin Peay
The Lady Govs are having a strong season, compiling a 13-5 overall and 7-1 OVC records. APSU's lone loss in the conference came against undefeated OVC-leader, Jacksonville State (2-3).
The Lady Govs have one player that gets the majority of the sets, but they also have four other hitters that they spread the offense out. Stephanie Champine gets about 15 more sets per game, while Ilyanna Hernandez, Kristin Distler, Taylor Skinner and Jessia Mollman split the rest pretty evenly each match. Champine leads the team with a .261 (274k-76e-758ta) attack percentage. Skinner is second with a .259 mark, Distler adds a .233 clip and Mollman hits at a .224 mark. Skinner and Distler are also threats at the service line, with 25 and 22 aces respectively.
The Lady Govs are a strong team overall, with a team hitting percentage of .220 (858k-305e-2517ta) and a digs average of 18.3 per set. APSU's digging has helped them hold opponents to a .150 (740k-373e-2448ta) hitting percentage.
Scouting Tennessee State
The Tigers head into this weekend's matches with a 2-17 overall record and a 1-6 mark against OVC opponents. TSU has not picked up a win since Sep. 25 at Eastern Illinois and is on a seven-match skid.
The Tigers have five players that spread the offense around the court, with all five attempting between 320 and 485 attacks. Vicmari Prospero has the best hitting percentage out of the group, with a .198 (142k-66e-383ta) mark, while Terakka Walker is the team's leading killer with 148. Prospero is also the team's leader at the service line and at the net, with 27 aces and 39 (1-38) blocks.
Calasia Willimas leads the defense for TSU, with 215 digs.
Swinging To Eliminate Cancer
For the second straight season the Racers will be hosting Swinging To Eliminate Cancer, a fundraiser to help those effected by cancer. But this season the team will be raising money to help closer to home, as all the funds raised will go to Ashley's Angels, a donation account set up to help the Gesler Family of Murray, Ky.
Ashley Gesler, the wife of David Gesler an Associate Professor in the Department of Organizational Communication at Murray State, was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2009. The couple has four children.
This year's Swinging To Eliminate Cancer event will take place, Oct. 23-24. Donations will be accepted through the weekend and can be given to any member of the team or volleyball staff. Those wishing to make donations can make a flat donation or can choose to make a donation per attack attempt recorded by both teams in both matches over the weekend.
This year the Racers will also be returning to The Big Apple Café for a rebate night, Monday, Oct. 19. Patrons of The Big Apple Café can choose to donate a portion of their check to the cause. The volleyball team will also be on hand from 4-8 p.m. to help staff refill drinks and communicate the importance of the event to customers.
Block Party
Junior Sara Hayden has been making moves on the MSU career blocking charts this season. The Louisville, Ky., native has 181 total blocks, including 139 block assists and 42 block solos.
Her 181 total blocks moved her up to the No. 9 spot on the Racer Total Blocks list. She needs eight more to move into eighth, currently held by Holly Jansen (188). Hayden is also on the career Block Assists List in the No. 7 position. She needs 14 to move up to sixth (153 - Katie Kemezys). Hayden is also four block solos away from making the top ten for block solos (46).
Ashley Nenninger is also inching closer to a spot on the block assist and total blocks charts after recording 111 (18-93) total blocks.
Becca Lamb also has a chance to make the total blocks and block assists charts. She currently has 121 (23-98) total blocks.
Up Next
After this weekend's matches MSU will remain at home for two more matches, Oct. 23-24. The Racers host Tennessee Tech, Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and Jacksonville State, Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
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